“Spread the word - we all have stories to tell,” said Strempek Shea, a novelist, non-fiction writer and former reporter for the Springfield Union-News and Daily News, now The Republican.

As keynote speaker at the Springfield Women’s Commission-sponsored ceremony, Strempek Shea said she has always drawn inspiration from the lives of other women, whether they ran bookstores and restaurants, drove the town bookmobile or operated a health clinic in a remote village in Africa.

Growing up in Palmer, Strempek Shea was surrounded by women who encouraged her ambitions, which evolved from putting out a family newspaper (title: The Nutty News) to studying art in college and writing novels, she said.

Her grandmother was particularly helpful, she said, while acknowledging that not every grandmother - or every family - is so nurturing.

“If you don’t have a cheerleader like that, be one for yourself,” she said.

The ceremony, held at the Barney Carriage House in Forest Park, marked the city’s 16th annual celebration of International Women’s Day.

Hosted by the city Councilor Kateri Walsh, the event honored two women for their accomplishments: retired Army National Guard and Air Reserve veteran Kathleen Morrow, who served five tours of duty in combat zones, and Vanessa Ford, a well-known singer who doubles as Sen. James Welch, D-West Springfield’s district office manager.

Ford also founded the Women of Faith Ensemble and teaches St. Michael’s Academy and the Community Music School of Springfield.

“We have a lot of talented women in Western Mass.” whose accomplishments are known nationally and internationally, Walsh said.

Morrow, now public safety officer at the Eastfield Mall, has served tours of duty Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Ford arrived late after singing at the funeral of someone who had requested her performance as part of their will.

Like Morrow, she expressed gratitude to the commission for recognizing her.

“I’m humbled and honored,” Ford said.

The event featured music from the September Girls, a vocal group, and the Community Music School Merit Scholars.

Also attending the event were students from Springfield’s Kensington Street Elementary School and Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, who created international-themed artwork and provided printing for the event.